GAH!! MY BRAIN HURTS!

My brain hurts!! I need help lol. I'm trying to create a program that can generate conversation functions. I'm trying to use types (for the first time I might add) and I've got a TON of questions.

This code is text-based and asks you what you want the filename, and function name are to be. It then asks you what you want the NPC to say, and what you list of responses are (tree-style). Using the code below, how can I be able to insert a type system where the user can type "(/end)" (which can be achieved with Instr()) to make that particular response end the conversation, and when that isn't done, continue asking for what the NPC says, and your responses (I'm thinking of developing a graphical tree system to make things easier). The big question is how to do this with types.

Here's the code:

AppTitle "SW:WRH Conversation creator"
Global filename$=""
Global launcher$=""
Global funcname$=""
Global npc1$=""
Global r1$=""
Global r2$=""
Global r3$=""
Global npc2$=""
Global quit=0
Global check$=""
 
Graphics 1280,1024,32,2



While quit=0


;createconversation
;create the conversation
Text 1, 1, "WELCOME TO THE SW:WRH CONVERSATION CREATOR. FOLLOW GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS. TYPE 'quit' AT ANY TIME TO QUIT WITHOUT SAVING YOUR CONVERSATION. HIT ANY KEY TO CONTINUE"
WaitKey()
Cls 

filename$=Input$("What should the filename of this conversation be (if the file already exhists, put its name here too, extensions are unnecesary)? ") + ".bb"
check(filename$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel


funcname$=Input$("What would you like the Function name For this conversation To be?   ")
check(funcname$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

npc1$=Input$("What would the first thing the NPC says be?   ")
Text 1000,15,"npc1= " + npc1
check(npc1$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

r1$=Input$("What do you want response1 to be?   ")
Text 1000, 30,"r1= " + r1
check(r1$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

r2$=Input$("What do you want response2 to be?   ")
Text 1000, 45,"r2= " + r2
check(r2$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

r3$=Input$("What do you want response3 to be?   ")
Text 1000, 60,"r3= " + r3
check(r3$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

writetofile 


Cls 

Wend 
.quitlabel
End 

Function check(check$)
If check$="quit" Then quit=1
;Goto quitlabel
;EndIf 
End Function 

Function writetofile()


test = FileType(filename$)

;if it doesn't
If Not test Then
		
	;createfile
	file = WriteFile(filename$)


;if it does		
Else
	
	;open file
	file = OpenFile(filename$)
	;seek to end of file
	SeekFile file, FileSize(filename$)
	
End If

WriteLine file, ""

WriteLine file, "Function " + funcname$ + "()"

WriteLine file, "npc1$ = " + Chr(34) + npc1$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "r1$ = " + Chr(34) + r1$ + Chr(34)

WriteLine file, "Repeat"


WriteLine file, "Flip()"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "Color 0,0,0"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1"
WriteLine file, "Color 0,0,0"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"

;HIGHLIGHTS========================

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"
;====================================

WriteLine file, "Text 250,100, " + Chr(34) + npc1$ + Chr(34) 
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), " + Chr(34) + r1$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, " + Chr(34) + r2$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, " + Chr(34) + r3$ + Chr(34)

WriteLine file, "Until KeyHit(1)"

WriteLine file, "End Function"

CloseFile file



End Function 

Sorry about the questions...I wasn't very clear...I'm tired :) Ask for clarifications if need be.

Thanks for any help!

PS: is there a way to have 3d animations played with my models during the Repeat ... Until loop for the conversation?

That looks nice. It can be a good method to write a program that generates code. However, with this method, you generate a separate function for each conversation. It might be better to create a single function that can handle all conversations.

For checking the input for (/end), in the function check, use:

Function check(check$)
  ;look for (/end)
  cc = Instr(check$, "(/end)")
  If cc > 0 Then
        ;remove (/end) from input
	check$ = Left$(check$, cc - 1) + Mid$(check$, cc + 6)
	quit = 1
  End If
End Function 

Then, to complete the entire input sequence before quitting, only check if quit = 1 after asking for response3.

You could make a type for the questions.
The type should look sort of like this:

Type TQuestion
 field question$
 field answer1$
 field answer2$
 field answer3$
End Type

After completing a question (when npc$, r1$, r2$ and r3$ are filled in), create a new instance of this type by using:

q.TQuestion = new TQuestion

Then fill in the fields:

q\question$ = npc1$
q\answer1$ = r1$
q\answer2$ = r2$
q\answer3$ = r3$

When all questions are entered, you could write the data to a file like this:

ff = WriteFile("questiondata.txt")
For q.TQuestion = each TQuestion
WriteLine ff, q\question$
WriteLine ff, q\answer1$
WriteLine ff, q\answer2$
WriteLine ff, q\answer3$
Next
CloseFile ff

And load it back using:

ff = ReadFile("questiondata.txt")
Delete Each TQuestion
while not(eof(ff))
   q.TQuestion = new TQuestion
   q\question$ = ReadLine(ff)
   q\answer1$ = REadLine(ff)
   q\answer2$ = REadLine(ff)
   q\answer3$ = REadLine(ff)
wend
CloseFile ff

However, you could also intergrate the type with the system you made allready.

3D Animations can be played back using the Animate Command.
The models have to be loaded with the LoadAnimMesh command.

In the generated function, the first lines of the loop are:

Repeat
Flip()

These should be changed to

Repeat
UpdateWorld
RenderWorld
Flip

For an example, look for the LoadAnimMesh example in the Blitz3D help section.

wow! Thanks! However, I have one question.

how could I be able to make clicking the choices during the loadback, and every time you click on, it brings up the next set of questions and replies? It needs to be flexible to an infinite number of replies, but terminatable at any time. (the termination can be done with the /end command, does a check for it, and then snaps to an end label)
In other words, how can I set up a hirarchy that extends all the way to the end of how many responses there are. That could be possible if fields have can have fields...is that possible?

Thanks!

Ah, I see. Well, there is a command called Replace$

ShowText$ = Replace$(OriginalText$, "(/end)", "")

With this construction, you can keep the (/end) bit in the answers until they are displayed on the screen. 'ShowText' is what is shown on the screen, and 'OriginalText' is the text/answers as the Function deals with it.

If Instr(OriginalText$, "(/end)") < 1 Then ;Continue Conversation

Then, for enabling the mouse, I would use RectsOverlap.
First, store MouseX, MouseY and MouseHit(1) in variables. That is needed, because they should be read only once each loop.

Repeat

msX = MouseX()
msY = MouseY()
msH = MouseHit(1)

.. etc

Then, use

RectsOverlap(msX, msY, 1, 1, AnswerX, AnswerY, AnswerWidth, AnswerHeight) And msH 

to check if the user clicks the answer, where AnswerWidth and AnswerHeight can be calculated using the StringWidth and StringHeight commands.

Here is an example:

Graphics 800, 600, 0, 2
SetBuffer BackBuffer()

Dim a$(3)

a$(1) = "answer1"
a$(2) = "another answer (number 2)"
a$(3) = "final or third answer"

Repeat

Cls

msX = MouseX()
msY = MouseY()
msH = MouseHit(1)

For i = 1 To 3

	x = 100
	y = i * 20 + 50
	Text x, y, a$(i)
	
	
	width = StringWidth(a$(i))
	height = StringHeight(a$(i))
	
	If RectsOverlap(msX, msY, 1, 1, x, y, width, height) And msH Then RuntimeError "you picked: " + i
	
Next

Flip

Until KeyHit(1)

As for the hierachic structure, you would need a way to link questions to each other. Do you want to use them in a random order ? Else you would need to specify how questions should be linked somehow.

For instance, you could mark each question with a 'order' property. For instance, some questions are marked with a a '1', and other questions with a '2', or a '3' etc.
First, the computer picks a question out of the '1' pool. Then, after that, it picks a follow-up question of the '2' pool, then '3' etc.

Another way would be indicating which questions can follow which answer.

             ____ bad ----- why is that ?
            /
how are you ----- fine ----- are you allways fine ?
            \____
                  mwoah ----- what would you like to buy ?

In that case, you could maybe best use a recursive structure. That is a function that calls itself.
The following example demonstrates that:

Graphics 800, 600, 0, 2
SetBuffer BackBuffer()

initquestion$ = Input("Initial question=")
GetQuestion$(initquestion$)

End

Function GetQuestion$(q$)

	Print 
	Print "-----------------"
	Print 

	Print "Please enter answers that can be given for"
	Print "this question: " + q$
	a1$ = Input (" answer1=")	
	follow1$ = Input$("  followed by=")
	
	a2$ = Input (" answer2=")
	follow2$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	a3$ = Input (" answer3=")
	follow3$ = Input$("  followed by=")
	
	If follow1$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow1$)	
	If follow2$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow2$)	
	If follow3$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow3$)	

End Function	

For each answer, a 'followed by' field is asked. If the answer shouldn't be followed by a new question, leave the field empty.

It would come in handy to reuse some questions. In that case, the GetQuestion() function should look if a certain 'followed by' question allready exists before re-calling itself. (Because if the question allready exists, there is no need to enter new answers for it)

To store this structure, you'll need a type like this:

Type TQuestion
 field question$
 field answer1$
 field answer2$
 field answer3$
 field followup1$
 field followup2$
 field followup3$
End Type

or

Type TQuestion
 field question$
 field answer$[3]
 field followup$[3]
End Type

After the user selects one of the answers, the computer checks the appropriate 'followup' field, and searches for a question that matches this 'followup'.
If this followup$ = "", then the conversation should end.

That code works beautifully, and integrated almost perfectly.

BUT:
I can't figure out how to use the recursive function to write into the file. Here's my current code:

 
AppTitle "SW:WRH Conversation creator"
Global filename$=""
Global launcher$=""
Global funcname$=""

Global quit=0
Global check$=""

Type TQuestion
Field question$
Field answer1$
Field answer2$
Field answer3$
Field followup1$
Field followup2$
Field followup3$
End Type 

Graphics 1280,1024,32,2






;createconversation
;create the conversation
Text 1, 1, "WELCOME TO THE SW:WRH CONVERSATION CREATOR. FOLLOW GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS. TYPE 'quit' AT ANY TIME TO QUIT WITHOUT SAVING YOUR CONVERSATION. HIT ANY KEY TO CONTINUE"
WaitKey()
Cls 

filename$=Input$("What should the filename of this conversation be (if the file already exhists, put its name here too, extensions are unnecesary)? ") + ".bb"
check(filename$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel


funcname$=Input$("What would you like the Function name For this conversation To be?   ")
check(funcname$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

Global initquestion$ = Input$("What should the First thing the NPC says be? ")

GetQuestion$(initquiestion$)


writetofile 


Cls 


.quitlabel
End 

Function check(check$)
If check$="quit" Then quit=1
;Goto quitlabel
;EndIf 
End Function 

Function writetofile()


test = FileType(filename$)

;if it doesn't
If Not test Then
		
	;createfile
	file = WriteFile(filename$)


;if it does		
Else
	
	;open file
	file = OpenFile(filename$)
	;seek to end of file
	SeekFile file, FileSize(filename$)
	
End If
;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================
WriteLine file, ""

WriteLine file, "Function " + funcname$ + "()"

WriteLine file, "npc1$ = " + Chr(34) + npc1$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "r1$ = " + Chr(34) + r1$ + Chr(34)

WriteLine file, "Repeat"
WriteLine file, "UpdateWorld"
WriteLine file, "RenderWorld"
WriteLine file, "Flip()"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "Color 0,0,0"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1"
WriteLine file, "Color 0,0,0"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"

;HIGHLIGHTS========================

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"
;====================================

WriteLine file, "Text 250,100, " + Chr(34) + npc1$ + Chr(34) 
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), " + Chr(34) + r1$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, " + Chr(34) + r2$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, " + Chr(34) + r3$ + Chr(34)

WriteLine file, "Until KeyHit(1)"

WriteLine file, ".endconv"
WriteLine file, "End Function"

;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================


CloseFile file



End Function 

Function GetQuestion$(q$)

	Print 
	Print "-----------------"
	Print 

	Print "Please enter answers that can be given for"
	Print "this question: " + q$
	a1$ = Input (" answer1=")	
	follow1$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	
	a2$ = Input (" answer2=")
	follow2$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	a3$ = Input (" answer3=")
	follow3$ = Input$("  followed by=")
	
	If follow1$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow1$)	
	If follow2$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow2$)	
	If follow3$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow3$)	

End Function	

To write this data to a file, place the 'writetofile' function after the 'quitlabel' label.
Instead of writing the data to the file, store them into the type first.
After everything is entered, dump all the Type data to the file at once.

yeah, I was trying that and ran into some trouble with making the fields = follow1, etc. Here:

AppTitle "SW:WRH Conversation creator"
Global filename$=""
Global launcher$=""
Global funcname$=""

Global quit=0
Global check$=""

Type TQuestion
Field question$
Field ans1$
Field ans2$
Field ans3$
Field fol1$
Field fol2$
Field fol3$
End Type 

Graphics 1280,1024,32,2






;createconversation
;create the conversation
Text 1, 1, "WELCOME TO THE SW:WRH CONVERSATION CREATOR. FOLLOW GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS. TYPE 'quit' AT ANY TIME TO QUIT WITHOUT SAVING YOUR CONVERSATION. HIT ANY KEY TO CONTINUE"
WaitKey()
Cls 

filename$=Input$("What should the filename of this conversation be (if the file already exhists, put its name here too, extensions are unnecesary)? ") + ".bb"
check(filename$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel


funcname$=Input$("What would you like the Function name For this conversation To be?   ")
check(funcname$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

Global initquestion$ = Input$("What should the First thing the NPC says be? ")

GetQuestion$(initquiestion$)


writetofile 


Cls 


.quitlabel
End 

Function check(check$)
If check$="quit" Then quit=1
;Goto quitlabel
;EndIf 
End Function 

Function writetofile()


test = FileType(filename$)

;if it doesn't
If Not test Then
		
	;createfile
	file = WriteFile(filename$)


;if it does		
Else
	
	;open file
	file = OpenFile(filename$)
	;seek to end of file
	SeekFile file, FileSize(filename$)
	
End If
;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================
WriteLine file, ""

WriteLine file, "Function " + funcname$ + "()"

WriteLine file, "npc1$ = " + Chr(34) + npc1$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "r1$ = " + Chr(34) + r1$ + Chr(34)

WriteLine file, "Repeat"
WriteLine file, "UpdateWorld"
WriteLine file, "RenderWorld"
WriteLine file, "Flip()"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "Color 0,0,0"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1"
WriteLine file, "Color 0,0,0"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"

;HIGHLIGHTS========================

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"

WriteLine file, "If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then"
WriteLine file, "Color 50, 50, 245"
WriteLine file, "Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1"
WriteLine file, "Color 255, 255, 255"
WriteLine file, "EndIf"
;====================================

WriteLine file, "Text 250,100, " + Chr(34) + npc1$ + Chr(34) 
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), " + Chr(34) + r1$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, " + Chr(34) + r2$ + Chr(34)
WriteLine file, "Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, " + Chr(34) + r3$ + Chr(34)

WriteLine file, "Until KeyHit(1)"

WriteLine file, ".endconv"
WriteLine file, "End Function"

;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================


CloseFile file



End Function 

Function GetQuestion$(q$)

	Print 
	Print "-----------------"
	Print 

	Print "Please enter answers that can be given for"
	Print "this question: " + q$
	a1$ = Input (" answer1=")	
	follow1$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	
	a2$ = Input (" answer2=")
	follow2$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	a3$ = Input (" answer3=")
	follow3$ = Input$("  followed by=")
	
	q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
	q/question$ = q$
	q/ans1$ = a1$
	q/ans2$ = a2$
	q/ans3$ = a3$
	q/fol1$ = follow1$
	q/fol2$ = follow2$
	q/fol3$ = follow3$
	
	
		
	If follow1$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow1$)	
	If follow2$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow2$)	
	If follow3$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow3$)	

End Function	

It doesn't let me run the program, I get runtime error "Expecting 'End Function' "

That is because you need to use the backslash instead of the slash. I was thinking .. maybe you could simply call/put the WriteToFile stuff in the GetQuestion function. That should also work.

edit: and there is a typo in this line:

DOH thanks!!! Lol, that backslash is gonna be my death...

Now I'm getting a variable type mismatch in this line:

	q.TQuestion = New TQuestion

This error is because your variable "q" was declared as a string-variable within your function declaration:

Function GetQuestion$(q$)

Further within the function you re-use the same variable
for storing a TQuestion type:

q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
q/question$ = q$

Within this function, you could use another variable for storing the TQuestion type.
This last bit is a bit confusing, as you want to store a TQuestion type variable into q, while q already has a string assigned to it.
If Blitz where to convert (which it doesn't) your q-string into a q-TQuestion type, your string would be gone (overwritten by a new TQuestion type object) and you would store the handle of the q-variable into q/question$.

got it. Thanks!

How will I be able able to write to the file according to the length of the hirarchy?

The simplest form would be something like this:

ff = WriteFile("questiondata.txt")
For q.TQuestion = each TQuestion
WriteLine ff, q\question$
WriteLine ff, q\answer1$
WriteLine ff, q\answer2$
WriteLine ff, q\answer3$
Next
CloseFile ff

but then I wouldn't be able to click things to bring up new questions and answers.

That is right. There are several ways to make that possible.
One of them would be writing the file as you did before, as a complete .bb program.
However, you could also write a single Function that takes a question as a parameter.
It should wait for the user to select one of the answers, then look for the follow-up question, and if that is defined, the function should call itself with this new question.

ooh....That last idea could work...

What's the [3] in

Type TQuestion
 field question$
 field answer$[3]
 field followup$[3]
End Type

do?

Instead of a single answer$ field, you can use 4 answer$s, from zero to three.

q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
q\answer$[0] = 'option 1'
q\answer$[1] = 'option 2'
q\answer$[2] = 'option 3'
q\answer$[3] = 'option 4'

This could be handy when you want to use a For..Next loop to read the answers, for instance:

For i = 0 to 3

  print q\answer$[i]

Next

that could be useful...thanks

It's almost done...but i've got a problem with your function idea, what do you mean by

if you could give some code to explain that I would hugely appreciate it!! (by the way, for helping me so much I'll probably give you credit in game and a blitz3d cookiee :D)

Well, if you put the first question in a string, say 'questiontoask$', you could use this to search for the TQuestion that holds this question:

questiontoask$ = "How are you ?" ;<-- first question

;reset 'q' to empty before searching
q.TQuestion = null

;scan all TQuestions
For temp.TQuestion = Each TQuestion

  ;if temp's question is the question to ask, then select temp and leave loop
  if temp\question$ = questiontoask$ Then q = temp: Exit

Next

if q = Null then Return ;--> the question was not found

After this, 'q' holds the question you were searching for.

Print q\question$

q\answer1$, q\answer2$, q\answer3$ are the possible answers

After the user picks one of them (1/2/3), get the followup$ that belongs to this answer
q\followup1$, q\followup2$, q\followup3$

--> I would start off with a simple Input, so you can enter 1, 2 or 3 directly. Later on, you can replace this with a mouse interface.

user = Input(">")
if user = 1 then followup$ = q\followup1$
if user = 2 then followup$ = q\followup2$
if user = 3 then followup$ = q\followup3$

If this 'followup$' is empty, leave the function (Return)
This happens when this question is a last question

If followup$ = "" Then Return

This 'followup$' is the new 'questiontoask$' that can be inserted at the start again.

You can use a Repeat..Forever loop as well as a Function.

what do you mean in using a repeat forever loop?

Instead of making a loop with Repeat..Until, you could also use Repeat..Forever. Then you can use the Exit command to end it. I find that easier, it means you can say something like
If <thisandthis> Then Exit
anywhere in the loop.

question$ = "please tell me about your hobbies"

Repeat

   Print question$

   Color 0, 255, 0
   answer$ = Input ("answer>")
   Color 255, 255, 255
   If answer$ = "" Then Exit

   t = t + 1
   If t Mod 2 = 0 Then 
      question$ = "that is so interesting"
   Else
      question$ = "please tell me more"
   End If

Forever

Print "Hey! .. that's not an answer!"
Delay 2500

End

If the loop is placed inside a function, you can also break the loop (and the Function at the same time) with the Return command.

dang, this should be working, here's the creator:

 
AppTitle "SW:WRH Conversation creator"
Global filename$=""
Global launcher$=""
Global funcname$=""

Global quit=0
Global check$=""

Type TQuestion
Field question$
Field ans1$
Field ans2$
Field ans3$
Field fol1$
Field fol2$
Field fol3$
End Type 

Graphics 1280,1024,32,2






;createconversation
;create the conversation
Text 1, 1, "WELCOME TO THE SW:WRH CONVERSATION CREATOR.  If you quit (click the X) It WILL NOT SAVE. HIT ANY KEY TO CONTINUE"
WaitKey()
Cls 

filename$=Input$("What should the filename of this conversation be (if the file already exhists, put its name here too, extensions are unnecesary)? ") + ".bb"
check(filename$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel


funcname$=Input$("What would you like the Function name For this conversation To be?   ")
check(funcname$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

Global initquestion$ = Input$("What should the First thing the NPC says be? ")

GetQuestion$(initquestion$)


writetofile 


Cls 


.quitlabel
End 

Function check(check$)
If check$="quit" Then quit=1
;Goto quitlabel
;EndIf 
End Function 

Function writetofile()


test = FileType(filename$)

;if it doesn't
If Not test Then
		
	;createfile
	file = WriteFile(filename$)


;if it does		
Else
	
	;open file
	file = OpenFile(filename$)
	;seek to end of file
	SeekFile file, FileSize(filename$)
	
End If
;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================
WriteLine file, "Type TQuestion"
WriteLine file, "Field question$"
WriteLine file, "Field ans1$"
WriteLine file, "Field ans2$"
WriteLine file, "Field ans3$"
WriteLine file, "Field fol1$"
WriteLine file, "Field fol2$"
WriteLine file, "Field fol3$"
WriteLine file, "End Type"



For question1.TQuestion = Each TQuestion
WriteLine file, "question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion"
WriteLine file, "question1\question$ = " + question1\question$
WriteLine file, "question1\ans1$ = " + question1\ans1$
WriteLine file, "question1\ans2$ = " + question1\ans2$
WriteLine file, "question1\ans3$ = " + question1\ans3$

If question1\fol1$ <> "" Then WriteLine file, "question1\fol1$ = " + question1\fol1$

If question1\fol2$ <> "" Then WriteLine file, "question1\fol2$ = " + question1\fol2$

If question1\fol3$ <> "" Then WriteLine file, "question1\fol3$ = " + question1\fol3$

Next 





;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================


CloseFile file



End Function 

Function GetQuestion$(q$)

	Print 
	Print "-----------------"
	Print 

	Print "Please enter answers that can be given for"
	Print "this question: " + q$
	a1$ = Input (" answer1=")	
	follow1$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	
	a2$ = Input (" answer2=")
	follow2$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	a3$ = Input (" answer3=")
	follow3$ = Input$("  followed by=")
	
	question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion
	question1\question$ = q$
	question1\ans1$ = a1$
	question1\ans2$ = a2$
	question1\ans3$ = a3$
	question1\fol1$ = follow1$
	question1\fol2$ = follow2$
	question1\fol3$ = follow3$
	
	
	
		
	If follow1$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow1$)	
	If follow2$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow2$)	
	If follow3$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow3$)	

End Function	

and here's my function:

Function conversation(filename$, questiontoask$)

Include "" + filename$

;reset 'q' to empty before searching
q.TQuestion = Null

;scan all TQuestions
For temp.TQuestion = Each TQuestion

  ;if temp's question is the question to ask, then select temp and leave loop
  If temp\question$ = questiontoask$ Then q = temp: Exit

Next

If q = Null Then Return ;--> the question was not found


Repeat
UpdateWorld
RenderWorld
Flip()



If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
EndIf

Color 0,0,0
Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
Color 0,0,0
Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
Color 255, 255, 255

;HIGHLIGHTS========================

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\follow1$
EndIf

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\follow2$
EndIf

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\follow3$
EndIf
;====================================

Text 250,100, "" + follwup$
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), "" + q\a1$ 
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, "" + q\a2$ 
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, "" + q\a2$ 

Until KeyHit(1)

End Function 

and I'm using this to call it:

If KeyHit( 43 ) Then 

conversation("testing!.bb", "Hi")
 
EndIf 

and finally the file testing!.bb is as follows:

Type TQuestion
Field question$
Field ans1$
Field ans2$
Field ans3$
Field fol1$
Field fol2$
Field fol3$
End Type
question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion
question1\question$ = Hi
question1\ans1$ = How are you?
question1\ans2$ = Bye!
question1\ans3$ = hello, I am mr. poopy head
question1\fol1$ = Good
question1\fol3$ = ???
question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion
question1\question$ = Good
question1\ans1$ = Nice to know
question1\ans2$ = Great
question1\ans3$ = I hate you
question1\fol2$ = I gotta go!
question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion
question1\question$ = I gotta go!
question1\ans1$ = K... :(
question1\ans2$ = :(
question1\ans3$ = Jerk!!
question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion
question1\question$ = ???
question1\ans1$ = that's right
question1\ans2$ = ?
question1\ans3$ = Goodbye

I'm leaving soon so if you could get me an answer ASAP I'd hugely appreciate it!

I'm getting the error message: "cannot open include file!" on the function...the file "testing!.bb" is in the same folder as the function...I don't get it!

It's more than that, I think. The strings are missing quotes:

question1\question$ = Hi

should be

question1\question$ = "Hi"

Instead of exporting, say, a$ to the file, export:

Chr$(34) + a$ + Chr$(34)

And you can't use Include with a string-variable.
You should enter a direct value to it.

a$ = "testing!.bb"
Include a$

won't work. It should be

Include "testing!.bb"

instead.
Then, there were a minor issues in this part:

Graphics 800, 600, 0, 2

Include "bram.bb"  ;<--insert generated file here

Conversation("how are you")

Function conversation(questiontoask$)


;reset 'q' to empty before searching
q.TQuestion = Null

;scan all TQuestions
For temp.TQuestion = Each TQuestion

  ;if temp's question is the question to ask, then select temp and leave loop
  If temp\question$ = questiontoask$ Then q = temp: Exit

Next

If q = Null Then Return ;--> the question was not found


Repeat

Cls

;UpdateWorld
;RenderWorld



If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
EndIf

Color 0,0,0
Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
Color 0,0,0
Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
Color 255, 255, 255

;HIGHLIGHTS========================

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol1$
EndIf

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol2$
EndIf

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol3$
EndIf
;====================================

Text 10,10, "" + followup$
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), "" + q\ans1$ 
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, "" + q\ans2$ 
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, "" + q\ans3$ 

Flip()

Until KeyHit(1)

End Function 

The 3d mode wasn't set, so renderworld didn't work.
A few typos, and the fields didn't match the type.

Awesome!! It kinda works! Except, I don't want to have all the variables in play throughout the entire game, which
Include "bram.bb"
does. How can I have the file included based on a variable. Also, types can only be declared outside the main program, so using a conversation inside the game loop with my current method, is problematic.

I think you should then use ReadFile/WriteFile to include variable data, like this:

;Delete Each TQuestion <-- delete possible existing questions
a$ = "Conversation12.dat"
ff = ReadFile(a$)
While Not(Eof(ff))

   q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
   q\question$ = ReadLine(ff)
   ..etc

Wend
Closefile ff

You could however also use Read&Data.
With the Restore command, you can determine where Read should start reading data. Using a Select..Case structure, you can use a variable to Restore to the right label.

I'm not sure if you're familiair with the Data command ?
Here is an example:

number = Input ("Which question ? (1, 2, 3) :")

Select number

	Case 1
		Restore label1
	Case 2
		Restore label2
	Case 3
		Restore label3

End Select

Read question$
Read answer1$
Read answer2$

Print "--------------------------"
Print question$
Print "--------------------------"
Print "1." + answer1$
Print "2." + answer2$

WaitKey()
End



.label1
Data "How are you?"
Data "I'm fine"
Data "I'm not so good"

.label2
Data "What is your name?"
Data "I am Dave"
Data "I am Miranda"

.label3
Data "Do you have a pet"
Data "Yes, a cat"
Data "Yes, a dog"
[/code]You could also use Select..Case with strings:[codebox]
a$ = "hello"

Select a$

	Case "hello"
		Print "a string was 'hello'"
		
	Case "bye"
		Print "a string was 'bye'"
		
	Default
		Print "a string was something else"
		
End Select

Delay 2260
End

And about Types, you can include Types whereever you like in the program, but they should appear before they are used.
So, if you're using them in an Included file, and you want to define them in the main program, they should appear before the Include command.

on your first method (not the data one) how should I make the code-generator (with a potentially-forever-expanding-hiarchy)

Well, you could write all the data to the file, without any code. Every dialog (multiple questions) could be an a separate file.

ff = WriteFile("questiondata.txt")
For q.TQuestion = each TQuestion
WriteLine ff, q\question$
WriteLine ff, q\answer1$
WriteLine ff, q\answer2$
WriteLine ff, q\answer3$
Next
CloseFile ff

Then, you could write a function that loads the data from the file, and then enters a Repeat..Forever loop that allows the user to answer the questions until they end.

;;this code is incomplete 

Questionnaire("questions0001.txt")

Function Questionnaire(file$)

   ff = Readfile(file$)
   Delete Each TQuestion
   ;;;---> read questions from file here
   CloseFile ff

   ;select first question
   q.TQuestion = First TQuestion

   Repeat

   ;;;---> Print first question
   ;;;---> Ask user to select answer
   ;;;---> Find the followup$
  
   ;;;---> If followup$ = "" Then Exit

   ;;;---> find question the matches followup
   ;;;---> and select it (q.TQuestion = .. )

   Forever

   Delete Each TQuestion

End Function

OK, It's nearly done, I've got 2 small questions left,


1 - EXCACTLY how do I ";;;---> read questions from file here"

2 - By the looks of your above codebox stuff, the main game should always have the Type "TQuestion" in play, but unless a conversation is currently in play, it's an empty type. When calling a conversation in-game, the text file is read, and the text is then "converted" to a type in the type "group" called TQuestion. As soon as the conversation is over, the type is flushed and emptied, leaving no unnecesary conversation-related variables in game. IS THIS CORRECT?

1.

ff = ReadFile("questiondata.txt")
Delete Each TQuestion
while not(eof(ff))
   q.TQuestion = new TQuestion
   q\question$ = ReadLine(ff)
   q\answer1$ = REadLine(ff)
   q\answer2$ = REadLine(ff)
   q\answer3$ = REadLine(ff)
wend
CloseFile ff

2. A Type is not a variable. It is a type of variable. So the Type remains available, however there are no instances of this type.

grrr....I'm having all sorts of problems with this, could you help me out?

this is the creator :

AppTitle "SW:WRH Conversation creator"
Global filename$=""
Global launcher$=""
Global funcname$=""

Global quit=0
Global check$=""

Type TQuestion
Field question$
Field ans1$
Field ans2$
Field ans3$
Field fol1$
Field fol2$
Field fol3$
End Type 

Graphics 1280,1024,32,2






;createconversation
;create the conversation
Text 1, 1, "WELCOME TO THE SW:WRH CONVERSATION CREATOR.  If you quit (click the X) It WILL NOT SAVE. HIT ANY KEY TO CONTINUE"
WaitKey()
Cls 

filename$=Input$("What should the filename of this conversation be (if the file already exhists, put its name here too, extensions are unnecesary)? ") + ".txt"
check(filename$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel


funcname$=Input$("What would you like the Function name For this conversation To be?   ")
check(funcname$)
If quit=1 Then Goto quitlabel

Global initquestion$ = Input$("What should the First thing the NPC says be? ")

GetQuestion$(initquestion$)


writetofile 


Cls 


.quitlabel
End 

Function check(check$)
If check$="quit" Then quit=1
;Goto quitlabel
;EndIf 
End Function 

Function writetofile()


test = FileType(filename$)

;if it doesn't
If Not test Then
		
	;createfile
	file = WriteFile(filename$)


;if it does		
Else
	
	;open file
	file = OpenFile(filename$)
	;seek to end of file
	SeekFile file, FileSize(filename$)
	
End If
;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================
;WriteLine file, "Type TQuestion"
;WriteLine file, "Field question$"
;WriteLine file, "Field ans1$"
;WriteLine file, "Field ans2$"
;WriteLine file, "Field ans3$"
;WriteLine file, "Field fol1$"
;WriteLine file, "Field fol2$"
;WriteLine file, "Field fol3$"
;WriteLine file, "End Type"



;For question1.TQuestion = Each TQuestion
;WriteLine file, "question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion"
;WriteLine file, "question1\question$ = " + Chr(34) + question1\question$ + Chr(34) 
;WriteLine file, "question1\ans1$ = " + Chr(34) + question1\ans1$ + Chr(34)
;WriteLine file, "question1\ans2$ = " + Chr(34) + question1\ans2$ + Chr(34) 
;WriteLine file, "question1\ans3$ = " + Chr(34) + question1\ans3$ + Chr(34)

;If question1\fol1$ <> "" Then WriteLine file, "question1\fol1$ = " + Chr(34) + question1\fol1$ + Chr(34)

;If question1\fol2$ <> "" Then WriteLine file, "question1\fol2$ = " + Chr(34) + question1\fol2$ + Chr(34)

;If question1\fol3$ <> "" Then WriteLine file, "question1\fol3$ = " + Chr(34) + question1\fol3$ + Chr(34)

;Next 

For question1.TQuestion = Each TQuestion

WriteLine file, question1\question$
WriteLine file, question1\ans1$
WriteLine file, question1\ans2$
WriteLine file, question1\ans3$
WriteLine file, question1\fol1$
WriteLine file, question1\fol2$
WriteLine file, question1\fol3$

Next 





;======================================================TO BE CHANGED================================


CloseFile file



End Function 

Function GetQuestion$(q$)

	Print 
	Print "-----------------"
	Print 

	Print "Please enter answers that can be given for"
	Print "this question: " + q$
	a1$ = Input (" answer1=")	
	follow1$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	
	a2$ = Input (" answer2=")
	follow2$ = Input$("  followed by=")

	a3$ = Input (" answer3=")
	follow3$ = Input$("  followed by=")
	
	question1.TQuestion = New TQuestion
	question1\question$ = q$
	question1\ans1$ = a1$
	question1\ans2$ = a2$
	question1\ans3$ = a3$
	question1\fol1$ = follow1$
	question1\fol2$ = follow2$
	question1\fol3$ = follow3$
	
	
	
		
	If follow1$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow1$)	
	If follow2$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow2$)	
	If follow3$ <> "" Then GetQuestion$(follow3$)	

End Function	

and this is the conversation function (need a TON of work here):

Function conversation(filename$, questiontoask$)

file = ReadFile(filename$)
Delete Each TQuestion
While Not (Eof(file))
	q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
	question1\question$ = ReadLine(file)
	question1\ans1$ = ReadLine(file)
	question1\ans2$ = ReadLine(file)
	question1\ans3$ = ReadLine(file)
	question1\fol1$ = ReadLine(file)
	question1\fol2$ = ReadLine(file)
	question1\fol3$ = ReadLine(file)
Wend 
CloseFile file

;reset 'q' to empty before searching
q.TQuestion = Null

;scan all TQuestions
For temp.TQuestion = Each TQuestion

  ;if temp's question is the question to ask, then select temp and leave loop
  If temp\question$ = questiontoask$ Then q = temp: Exit

Next

If q = Null Then Return ;--> the question was not found

gfxmouse = LoadImage("mouse01.bmp")
MaskImage gfxmouse, 255, 255, 255

bgimage = CreateImage(displaywidth, displayheight)
CopyRect 0, 0, displaywidth, displayheight, 0, 0, BackBuffer(), ImageBuffer(bgimage)

Repeat

Repeat 


Cls 
DrawImage bgimage, 0, 0
;UpdateWorld
;RenderWorld


DrawImage gfxmouse, MouseX(), MouseY()

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
EndIf

Color 0,0,0
Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
Color 0,0,0
Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
Color 255, 255, 255

;HIGHLIGHTS========================

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol1$
EndIf

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol2$
EndIf

If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then
Color 50, 50, 245
Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1
Color 255, 255, 255
If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol3$
EndIf
;====================================

Text 10,10, "" + followup$
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), "" + q\ans1$ 
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, "" + q\ans2$ 
Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, "" + q\ans3$ 

Flip()
Until Not followup$ <> ""
Flip()

Until KeyHit(1)

End Function 

and in the main program, the code :

Type TQuestion
Field question$
Field ans1$
Field ans2$
Field ans3$
Field fol1$
Field fol2$
Field fol3$
End Type 

and being called like so:

If KeyHit( 43 ) Then 

conversation("text.txt", "Hi")
 
EndIf 

finally, the text file generated by the creator is as follows:

Hi
Hi
Bye
I hate you
Bye


Bye
What?
OK.
Bye!
That's right!


That's right!
Ok
Bye
KK

Any help?

by the way, I'm giving you an uber-cookiee for all your help :) and super-credits

Binary Decision Tree
http://www.blitzbasic.com/codearcs/codearcs.php?code=1455

... wish i saw that, how do I use it? Better yet, what's wrong with the system I'm using ( I like to have SOME hand in my creations)

I looked at the code. Actually there wasn't much wrong. In the first loop, the Type that is filled in has another name than the Type that is created.
Other than that, I moved the file-reading to the beginning of the function, and added 'Delete Each TQuestion' for every 'Return' call.
Also I changed the loops to Repeat-Forever, and put the conditions (such as KeyHit(1)) that exit the loop in If statements.
In order to get it to work, at the end of the loop, I added questiontoask$ = followup$, so that the Function could search for the next question:

	Graphics 1024,768,0,2
	Const displaywidth = 800
	Const displayheight = 600
	
	Type TQuestion
	Field question$
	Field ans1$
	Field ans2$
	Field ans3$
	Field fol1$
	Field fol2$
	Field fol3$
	End Type 
	
	conversation("text.txt", "Hi")
	
	End
	 
;=====================================================================================================
;=====================================================================================================
;=====================================================================================================

Function conversation(filename$, questiontoask$)

	;read file data
	file = ReadFile(filename$)
	Delete Each TQuestion
	While Not (Eof(file))
		q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
		q\question$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans1$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans2$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans3$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol1$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol2$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol3$ = ReadLine(file)
	Wend 
	CloseFile file
	
	;create/load mouse image	
	gfxmouse = CreateImage(8,8);LoadImage("mouse01.bmp")
	MaskImage gfxmouse, 255, 255, 255
	
	;copy screen to 'bgimage'
	bgimage = CreateImage(displaywidth, displayheight)
	CopyRect 0, 0, displaywidth, displayheight, 0, 0, BackBuffer(), ImageBuffer(bgimage)

	;reset followup$	
	followup$ = ""

	;main loop	
	Repeat

		;----SEARCH QUESTION THAT MATCHES 'questiontoask$'----	
		
		;reset 'q' to empty before searching
		q.TQuestion = Null
		
		;scan all TQuestions
		For temp.TQuestion = Each TQuestion
		
		  ;if temp's question is the question to ask, then select temp and leave loop
		  If temp\question$ = questiontoask$ Then q = temp: Exit
		
		Next
	
		;if no matching question was found, leave function
		If q = Null Then Delete Each TQuestion: Return ;--> the question was not found
		
		;----USER INPUT LOOP----
	
		;select loop	
		Repeat 
		
			;draw 'bgimage'
			Cls 
			DrawImage bgimage, 0, 0
			;UpdateWorld
			;RenderWorld
			
			;draw mouse			
			DrawImage gfxmouse, MouseX(), MouseY()
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			EndIf
			
			Color 0,0,0
			Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
			Color 0,0,0
			Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			
			;HIGHLIGHTS========================
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol1$: Exit
			EndIf
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol2$: Exit ;<----- added 'Exit'
			EndIf
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol3$: Exit
			EndIf
			;====================================
			
			;draw optional answers
			Text 10,10, "" + followup$
			Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), "" + q\ans1$ 
			Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, "" + q\ans2$ 
			Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, "" + q\ans3$ 
			
			Flip()
			
			;Esc=leave function
			If KeyHit(1) Then Return
			
		Forever ;<------- changed to 'Forever'
		
		If followup$ = "" Then Delete Each TQuestion: Return ;<-----added 'Delete Each TQuestion'
		
		questiontoask$ = followup$
	
	Forever ;<------- changed to 'Forever'

End Function 

it almost works! the code you gave does work, but I'm getting a mem access violation when i use it in-game. Here's my new functions (small revisions, mainly got rid of semicolons):

Function conversation(filename$, questiontoask$)

	;read file data
	file = ReadFile(filename$)
	Delete Each TQuestion
	While Not (Eof(file))
		q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
		q\question$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans1$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans2$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans3$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol1$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol2$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol3$ = ReadLine(file)
	Wend 
	CloseFile file
	
	;create/load mouse image	
	gfxmouse = LoadImage("mouse01.bmp")
	MaskImage gfxmouse, 255, 255, 255
	
	;copy screen to 'bgimage'
	bgimage = CreateImage(displaywidth, displayheight)
	CopyRect 0, 0, displaywidth, displayheight, 0, 0, BackBuffer(), ImageBuffer(bgimage)

	;reset followup$	
	followup$ = ""

	;main loop	
	Repeat

		;----SEARCH QUESTION THAT MATCHES 'questiontoask$'----	
		
		;reset 'q' to empty before searching
		q.TQuestion = Null
		
		;scan all TQuestions
		For temp.TQuestion = Each TQuestion
		
		  ;if temp's question is the question to ask, then select temp and leave loop
		  If temp\question$ = questiontoask$ Then q = temp: Exit
		
		Next
	
		;if no matching question was found, leave function
		If q = Null Then Delete Each TQuestion: Return ;--> the question was not found
		
		;----USER INPUT LOOP----
	
		;select loop	
		Repeat 
		
			;draw 'bgimage'
			Cls 
			DrawImage bgimage, 0, 0
			;UpdateWorld
			;RenderWorld
			
			;draw mouse			
			;DrawImage gfxmouse, MouseX(), MouseY()
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			EndIf
			
			Color 0,0,0
			Rect 0,0,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
			Color 0,0,0
			Rect 0,(displayheight/4)*3,displaywidth,displayheight/4,1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			
			;HIGHLIGHTS========================
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol1$: Exit
			EndIf
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3) + 12 +50) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50 Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol2$: Exit ;<----- added 'Exit'
			EndIf
			
			If (MouseY() < ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+12+100) And MouseY() > ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100 Then
			Color 50, 50, 245
			Rect 0, ((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, displaywidth, 12, 1
			Color 255, 255, 255
			If MouseHit(1) Then followup$ = q\fol3$: Exit
			EndIf
			;====================================
			
			;draw optional answers
			Text 10,10, "" + followup$
			Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3), "" + q\ans1$ 
			Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+50, "" + q\ans2$ 
			Text 250,((displayheight/4)*3)+((displayheight/4)*.3)+100, "" + q\ans3$ 
			
			Flip()
			
			;Esc=leave function
			If KeyHit(1) Then Return
			
		Forever ;<------- changed to 'Forever'
		
		If followup$ = "" Then Delete Each TQuestion: Return ;<-----added 'Delete Each TQuestion'
		
		questiontoask$ = followup$
	
	Forever ;<------- changed to 'Forever'

End Function 

What wrong with it?

I found that getting rid of:

	file = ReadFile(filename$)
	Delete Each TQuestion
	While Not (Eof(file))
		q.TQuestion = New TQuestion
		q\question$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans1$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans2$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\ans3$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol1$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol2$ = ReadLine(file)
		q\fol3$ = ReadLine(file)
	Wend 
	CloseFile file

makes using the function do nothing.

Try enable debug mode ? Program->Debug enabled ?
On what line do you get this error ?
I think the mouse image is missing, or it can't find 'text.txt'

lol, stupid typo on calling it!! IT WORKS!

if you could email me at chwaga@... I can give you credits, I'm leaving soon so I'll make your cookiee later today! THANKS!! (do you think this could find it's place in the code arcs?)

No problem. As for the archive entry, why not ? I would make a very basic version, single source, that immediately makes clear what it does. If people want to use it, they might tweak it to be able to include it in their own sources. So if your version is easily tweakable, then chances are, people will use it.

Thanks, here's your cookiee, as promised:
[a http://files.filefront.com/Have+A+Cookieezip/;8531738;/fileinfo.html] have a cookiee[/a]

Thanks for all your help!

Great :) thanks a lot.